Mark Richt announces fundraiser for Parkinson's, Crohn's research
ATHENS, Ga. — Mark Richt made a special appearance at Monday’s media day for Georgia-Kentucky, announcing his first-ever “Chick-fil-A Dawg Bowl” event to raise money for Parkinson’s and Crohn’s disease research.
Set to take place on October 18th during Georgia’s bye week, the VIP bowling tournament will feature 32 teams of five bowlers with each lane featuring one current Georgia Bulldog. Each member of the winning team will take home a special Dawg Bowl belt – one which Kirby Smart said he imagines his players will get quite competitive for.
The goal of it all? Raise $750,000 dollars to donate to the University of Georgia Isakson Center for Neurological Disease Research. Richt said if things get crazy, they might even be able to hit $1 million. Smart said that’ll happen, whatever it takes.
At the time of publication, the fundraiser has already raised over $500,000. With over two weeks until the event, hitting the big goal should be no problem.
Tax-deductible donations can be made at richtsdawgbowl.com.
Richt’s granddaughter Jadyn, who was with him at the press conference, has Crohn’s disease while Mark announced his battle with Parkinson’s disease publicly back in 2021.
“What a great cause. It means a lot to me,” Smart said after Richt wrapped up his announcement. “When Coach Richt reached out and asked about doing that, we’ve been all on board. Obviously letting our players participate. My grandfather had Parkinson’s, and I can remember him going through that experience. It’s touched everybody’s lives in some way, shape or form. So anything we can do to give back to that. It’s during our off week, so we’re going to fill up that bowling alley with everybody we can.”
Richt was named a member of the Class of 2023 for the College Football Hall of Fame in January. He spent 15 seasons as the head coach at Georgia, going 145-51 during his time in Athens.
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Richt led Georgia teams won SEC Championships in 2002 and 2005 and made a trio of other appearances in the SEC Championship Game in 2003, 2011 and 2012.
Since stepping away from coaching following a three-year stint at Miami (2016-18), Richt has served as an analyst for the ACC Network. He ranks second all time in school history for wins behind only Vince Dooley.
“I would like to say congratulations to Coach Richt who got elected in the College Football Hall of Fame today, I think. I texted him earlier. I’m so happy for him,” Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said about Richt after the National Championship Game, the same day it was announced he’d be in the Hall of Fame. “He texted back to me immediately: ‘Kick that ass tonight.’ I knew he was behind us. Really happy for him.”
“It was just a lot about the game of football, learning the management of it,” Smart added on a separate occasion about the one season he spent on staff under Richt in 2005. “I was a young coach then, had only been a GA for two years, a full-time coach for three. (So it was) a lot about recruiting, a lot about relationships and Coach Richt’s demeanor, leading the team, things like that. It was a valuable year probably most because I was on the other side of the ball.”
